Asymmetric aryl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (ArPOSS) with enhanced solubility

Four new asymmetric Polyhedral Oligomeric SilSesquioxanes (POSS) with the formula (Aryl)Phenyl7Si8O12, where Aryl = 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, 9-phenanthrenyl, and 1-pyrenyl, have been synthesized in reasonable yield and high purity. These compounds were characterized with 1H, 13C, 29Si NMR and elemental combustion analysis. These compounds possess polycyclic aromatic functionality, which disrupts symmetry to improve solubility in organic solvents and aromatic polymers, without significant impact on thermal stability.